Love
Sonnet XL (In Death): He Attempts to Paint Her Beauties, but Not Her Virtues
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death
She, for whose sake fair Arno I resign,
And for free poverty court-affluence spurn,
Has known to sour the precious sweets to turn
On which I lived, for which I burn and pine.
Though since, the vain attempt has oft been mine
That future ages from my song should learn
Her heavenly beauties, and like me should burn,
My poor verse fails her sweet face to define.
The gifts, though all her own, which others share,
Which were but stars her bright sky scatter'd o'er,
Haply of these to sing e'en I might dare;
But when to the diviner part I soar,
To the dull world a brief and brilliant light,
Courage and wit and art are baffled quite.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XL (In Death): He Attempts to Paint Her Beauties, but Not Her Virtues.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/307/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XL (In Death): He Attempts to Paint Her Beauties, but Not Her Virtues.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/307/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet XIII (In Life): On Quitting Laura
- Sonnet LXVII (In Life): He Counsels Lovers to Flee, Rather Than Be Consumed by the Flames of Love
- Sonnet CXXIX (In Life): He Envies Every Spot That She Frequents
- Sonnet CXCIX (In Life): He Excuses Himself for Visiting Laura Too Often, and Loving Her Too Much
- Sonnet XLIII (In Death): The Song of the Nightingale Reminds Him of His Unhappy Lot